Standing on his hind legs, the humongous hound stretches to an incredible 2.23 metres, more the size of a donkey than your average Great Dane.

Three-year-old Great Dane Zeus officially the tallest dog in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

And now the three-year-old from Michigan in the United States has been officially recognised as the tallest living dog of all time in the latest Guinness Book of World Records.

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Zeus, named after the Greek god, weighs 70.3 kilograms and eats about 12 cups of food a day.

He towers over his owner Denise Doorlag, who says she is regularly stopped in the street when she takes him out for a walk.

Kevin Doorlag stands with his dog Zeus, the world's tallest canine, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Photo: AP

"The most common thing people ask is: 'Is that a dog or a horse?' and 'Where's his saddle?'," Ms Doorlag said.

"The only downside is that everything costs more, the food, medicines, transport. We had to get a van to be able to transport him. Oh, and if he steps on your foot he leaves bruises."

Zeus measures 1.12 metres from paw to withers, the point between the shoulder blades at which the official height of a four-legged mammal is judged for the Guinness record.

Zeus drinks from the kitchen faucet in Otsego, Michigan. Photo: AP

He breaks the record of Giant George, another Great Dane who is an inch — 2.5 centimetres — shorter.

Among other record-holders recognised in the 57th version of best-selling reference book is 86-year-old Johanna Quaas, a retired PE teacher from Leipzig, Germany, who has been named the world's oldest gymnast.

Egyptian-born Moustafa Ismail has been recognised for having the largest biceps and triceps, with a circumference of 64.7 centimetres.

The title of the world's shortest woman goes to 18-year-old Joyti Amge, from the central Indian city of Nagpur, who stands at just 62.8 centimetres tall.